What do people do?

Many people spend Boxing Day relaxing, going to the beach, being with family and friends, and enjoying the rest. It is a time to unwind and enjoy the summer break before heading back to work. Many people take time off between Christmas and New Year's Day. This time of the year is also the school holidays so some families travel abroad.

Public life

Boxing Day is a statutory public holiday in New Zealand, so schools, government offices, and many private businesses are closed. New Year’s Day is also in the middle of the school summer holidays in New Zealand.

Background

Boxing Day is a holiday in many countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, including New Zealand. It was traditionally a day for employers in England to give bonuses of money, leftover food or old clothing to their employees, or for lords to give agricultural tools and seeds for the coming year to their tenants. These gifts were presented in a box. Some people believe that this is the reason that December 26 is known as Boxing Day. Others think that the origin of the name is related to the box into which parishioners put church donations. In some areas, this box was opened on Boxing Day and the contents were distributed to the poor people of the parish.

Boxing Day Observances

Select another year-range:

Weekday

Date

Year

Name

Holiday type

Wed

Dec 26

1990

Boxing Day

National holiday

Thu

Dec 26

1991

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sat

Dec 26

1992

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sun

Dec 26

1993

Boxing Day

National holiday

Mon

Dec 26

1994

Boxing Day

National holiday

Tue

Dec 26

1995

Boxing Day

National holiday

Thu

Dec 26

1996

Boxing Day

National holiday

Fri

Dec 26

1997

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sat

Dec 26

1998

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sun

Dec 26

1999

Boxing Day

National holiday

Tue

Dec 26

2000

Boxing Day

National holiday

Wed

Dec 26

2001

Boxing Day

National holiday

Thu

Dec 26

2002

Boxing Day

National holiday

Fri

Dec 26

2003

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sun

Dec 26

2004

Boxing Day

National holiday

Mon

Dec 26

2005

Boxing Day

National holiday

Tue

Dec 26

2006

Boxing Day

National holiday

Wed

Dec 26

2007

Boxing Day

National holiday

Fri

Dec 26

2008

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sat

Dec 26

2009

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sun

Dec 26

2010

Boxing Day

National holiday

Mon

Dec 26

2011

Boxing Day

National holiday

Wed

Dec 26

2012

Boxing Day

National holiday

Thu

Dec 26

2013

Boxing Day

National holiday

Fri

Dec 26

2014

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sat

Dec 26

2015

Boxing Day

National holiday

Mon

Dec 26

2016

Boxing Day

National holiday

Tue

Dec 26

2017

Boxing Day

National holiday

Wed

Dec 26

2018

Boxing Day

National holiday

Thu

Dec 26

2019

Boxing Day

National holiday

Sat

Dec 26

2020

Boxing Day

National holiday

Quick Facts

Boxing Day, annually observed on December 26, is a public holiday in New Zealand.